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Miles Archer

(24,399 posts)
Fri May 22, 2026, 12:06 AM Yesterday

Fetterman mocks free healthcare, calls the Epstein Files a nothingburger, & whizzes on Alex Pretti's grave

Messages obtained by New York Magazine show the Democrat, who has been a thorn in his party’s side on a host of issues, mocking free healthcare, dismissing the Epstein files as a “nothing burger,” and calling Democrats hypocritical for their outrage at the killing of nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“How should it cost? Free?” he wrote. “I don’t understand what affordability it is.”

Also in January, as the Trump administration was dragging its heels about releasing the Epstein files, Fetterman messaged a staffer: “Epstein was a nothing burger. Worst pics I’ve seen were from Clinton lol.”

“Kyle Rittenhouse brought a gun to a protest,” Fetterman, 56, texted a staffer. “He was roundly condemned for that. Why are now democrats defending the nurse it was legal to carry. Both legal weapons. Square that.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumpy-texts-from-maga-favorite-dem-john-fetterman-exposed-in-bombshell-leak/

70 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Fetterman mocks free healthcare, calls the Epstein Files a nothingburger, & whizzes on Alex Pretti's grave (Original Post) Miles Archer Yesterday OP
Dude is not well. OAITW r.2.0 Yesterday #1
Nope FHRRK1 Yesterday #4
He was a POS Boo1 Yesterday #5
He's not well. He's also an asshole and that's not new. We need to not think that a stroke is the basis for him being a themaguffin 22 hrs ago #52
what a maroon. rittenhouse killed 2 people with his legal gun. msongs Yesterday #2
Pretti's handgun was holstered during mostly calm protests Cosmocat 22 hrs ago #51
Tell that to the Survivors of PEDO's Cha Yesterday #3
The files include accusations of Trump Johonny Yesterday #30
Rock Stupid and a GD Gaslighting Liar for Cha 15 hrs ago #70
He's a scumbag opportunist that sucks up to anyone with power SunImp Yesterday #6
He can go fuck right off fujiyamasan Yesterday #7
I know.. Fetterman is really off Cha Yesterday #9
Every word he spews just pisses me off more fujiyamasan Yesterday #10
Same.. if you see my post down Cha Yesterday #13
I fully expect him to flip JBTaurus83 Yesterday #26
Yeah, do it for PEDO. Cha 15 hrs ago #69
How fucking dare Fetterman dsmiss Cha Yesterday #8
Fuck that con artist. dalton99a Yesterday #11
Fetterman needs to be removed from office sakabatou Yesterday #12
Little Kyle's gun wasn't timms139 Yesterday #14
archive link Celerity Yesterday #15
Thank you! n/t Raine1967 Yesterday #34
yw Celerity Yesterday #36
We need 51 Dem senators. +4. scipan Yesterday #16
52, as if Fetterman defects on a vote (and he will) and we have 51 Dems counting Fetty, Vance would break a 50/50 tie Celerity Yesterday #17
Hopefully we can add Nebraska JBTaurus83 Yesterday #27
I do not think Osborn, if he wins, will caucus with either party. That said, hopefully he votes as a Dem would far more Celerity Yesterday #35
Jesse Helms was a Democrat. LuvLoogie Yesterday #18
DAVID DUKE WAS A REPUBLICAN. JESSE HELMS WAS........ ColoringFool Yesterday #19
LOL. Helms was a Dem before he switched to R LuvLoogie Yesterday #20
Completely disingenuous. intheflow Yesterday #23
Not disingenuous. It's the point. LuvLoogie Yesterday #25
The 1960s Civil Rights Acts caused southern Democrats to switch. yardwork Yesterday #31
Fetterman calling himself a Democrat does not insulate him from LuvLoogie 22 hrs ago #50
MLK was never a Republican TVguyCards Yesterday #24
You're right. LuvLoogie Yesterday #29
Not sure I understand. Are we supposed to support Democrats even if they are racist scum? Autumn 23 hrs ago #42
The contradiction is the point. LuvLoogie 23 hrs ago #45
Thank you for clearing that up. I agree 100% Autumn 22 hrs ago #49
New York Magazine on Senator Fetterman Passages Yesterday #21
Centrist pov Emile Yesterday #22
Jesus, this guy is grade A Trump level stupid Johonny Yesterday #28
Manchin voted with the democrats 89% Emile Yesterday #32
How much of that was unanimous or near-unanimous legislation though? ck4829 20 hrs ago #63
At least Manchin was from a red state D_Master81 Yesterday #39
Any good will I still had for Fetterman is now gone. Zero sympathy for his medical conditions now. Botany Yesterday #33
+1. I think his stroke was a scam. dalton99a 23 hrs ago #43
I guess that I'd like to know how he managed to hoodwink enough people to get elected. Nobody saw the signs? Firestorm49 Yesterday #37
I can't help but wonder about his spouse. Raine1967 Yesterday #38
She seems to have more empathy then he does! GCG 23 hrs ago #41
Why is he still a Democrat? Omnipresent 23 hrs ago #40
If I have a stroke, I'd rather have it kill me... -misanthroptimist 23 hrs ago #44
The guy sounds more and more ridiculous every time he opens his hideous mouth. Borogove 23 hrs ago #46
The 1 term senator from Penn said what? D_Master81 23 hrs ago #47
Next insider trade list must have been received then. n/t flvegan 22 hrs ago #48
KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS NOT DEAD. CousinIT 22 hrs ago #53
And that little shit Rittenhouse KILLED MadLinguist 20 hrs ago #62
DINO ? republianmushroom 22 hrs ago #54
Centrist Emile 20 hrs ago #64
That's MAGA talk awesomerwb1 22 hrs ago #55
He does like them freedom-fried potaters, mmm-hmmm.... Blue Owl 17 hrs ago #68
My theory about this guy: PCIntern 22 hrs ago #56
If I have a stroke, I hope it finishes me off instead of damaging my brain so badly like we see with Fetterman ck4829 22 hrs ago #57
My bet is he defects WinningAgain 21 hrs ago #58
John Fetterman sees nothing wrong with child traffiking! Dawson Leery 21 hrs ago #59
Is he on the list? TrunKated 21 hrs ago #60
As U.S. Senator he gets solid PLATINUM health care for $0. Ars Longa 20 hrs ago #61
When Fetterman first ran for MustLoveBeagles 20 hrs ago #65
WTAF is wrong with that guy? Blue Owl 18 hrs ago #66
OMG Rittenhouse KILLED SOMEONE senseandsensibility 18 hrs ago #67

FHRRK1

(143 posts)
4. Nope
Fri May 22, 2026, 12:19 AM
Yesterday

The dude is a worthless piece of shit opportunist

Don’t give his bitch ass an out

themaguffin

(5,419 posts)
52. He's not well. He's also an asshole and that's not new. We need to not think that a stroke is the basis for him being a
Fri May 22, 2026, 11:22 AM
22 hrs ago

...dick to Democrats and Americans.

Cosmocat

(15,477 posts)
51. Pretti's handgun was holstered during mostly calm protests
Fri May 22, 2026, 11:13 AM
22 hrs ago

other than ICE goons doing ICE goon shit ...

Rittenhouse was was brandishing an AR during a full on riot ... and used it to kill people.

Cha

(320,742 posts)
3. Tell that to the Survivors of PEDO's
Fri May 22, 2026, 12:15 AM
Yesterday

attacks on girls, Fetterman. And, if it's so "nothingbuger." Why won't PEDO release the files? You maga moron

Johonny

(26,640 posts)
30. The files include accusations of Trump
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:28 AM
Yesterday

Engaged in pedophilia and rape... They don't have those accusation against Clinton. So, apparently he is rock stupid.

Cha

(320,742 posts)
70. Rock Stupid and a GD Gaslighting Liar for
Fri May 22, 2026, 06:23 PM
15 hrs ago

PEDO.

Fetterman really stepped in it with that one.. Denying Traitor is a pedophile.

fujiyamasan

(2,063 posts)
7. He can go fuck right off
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:00 AM
Yesterday

I’d be fine if he just left the party now.

At least it doesn’t give us a false idea of our senate numbers. Unless we have a majority not counting him, we shouldn’t consider it a majority.

Cha

(320,742 posts)
9. I know.. Fetterman is really off
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:17 AM
Yesterday

his full blown maga rocker.

But we need his Dem status for the numbers.. and then in 2028 Swap him out for a Real Dem.

And, say Bye turn coat Fascist Asshole to whatever that was.

fujiyamasan

(2,063 posts)
10. Every word he spews just pisses me off more
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:19 AM
Yesterday

I think he’s just enjoying being a contrarian ass hole. He thinks he’s edgy or something.

Cha

(320,742 posts)
13. Same.. if you see my post down
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:31 AM
Yesterday

thread I'm breathing

Fetterman seems to think he's in the catbird seat and daring us to do anything about it.

Cha

(320,742 posts)
8. How fucking dare Fetterman dsmiss
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:09 AM
Yesterday

The vicious murder of Alex Pretti because he had a gun with him.

And, scoff off Rittenhouse because he brought a gun and killed 2 people.

Fetterman is fucking Gaslighting America in a hoodie.

timms139

(565 posts)
14. Little Kyle's gun wasn't
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:57 AM
Yesterday

legal ,him being under the legal age to carry that weapon to the protest .

scipan

(3,108 posts)
16. We need 51 Dem senators. +4.
Fri May 22, 2026, 02:19 AM
Yesterday

I don't want to see him in the Manchin/Sinema position.

Cooper NC
Platner ME
Peltola AK
Sherrod Brown OH
Whoever MI holding
Pappas NH holding
Ossoff GA holding

Celerity

(54,921 posts)
17. 52, as if Fetterman defects on a vote (and he will) and we have 51 Dems counting Fetty, Vance would break a 50/50 tie
Fri May 22, 2026, 02:26 AM
Yesterday

Celerity

(54,921 posts)
35. I do not think Osborn, if he wins, will caucus with either party. That said, hopefully he votes as a Dem would far more
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:40 AM
Yesterday
than he votes as a Rethug would.

LuvLoogie

(8,929 posts)
18. Jesse Helms was a Democrat.
Fri May 22, 2026, 02:32 AM
Yesterday

David Duke was a Democrat.

John Fetterman is a Democrat

But a racist is a racist,
and a POS quisling is a POS quisling.

Support Democrats.

LuvLoogie

(8,929 posts)
20. LOL. Helms was a Dem before he switched to R
Fri May 22, 2026, 07:07 AM
Yesterday

Duke ran for office in the 70s and 80s as a Dem.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Republican

Support Democrats.

intheflow

(30,255 posts)
23. Completely disingenuous.
Fri May 22, 2026, 08:23 AM
Yesterday

The parties switched ideologies starting in the 1930s. As with many things, white Southern politicians were slow to catch on to reality.

LuvLoogie

(8,929 posts)
25. Not disingenuous. It's the point.
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:12 AM
Yesterday

I got a hide for calling Fetterman a POS. I support little d democratic principles, justice, care of fellow man, and the planet among other things. Inasmuch as the big D Democrats work for that, I'll support them. Inasmuch as democratic principles, justice, etc. are part of the Democratic Party Platform, I support the party. People who call themselves Democrats while undermining these principles can pound sand. A racist is a racist. A piece of shit quisling is a piece of shit quisling.

There are a lot of Democrats recently elected who serve more as a check on our principles than as a check on this racist criminal regime. The Polis clemency for Peters, Spanberger's vetoes, Dems voting for the Laiken Riley Act and anti LGBTQ legislation, are prime examples.

Bill Kristol became a Democrat. I welcome him. Fetterman can't leave soon enough. Our problems run deep. trump gives cover to that deeply seated rot, ironically, while exposing it and implementing it openly. He draws fire while Republicans enable and many Democrats roll over. Our party leadership, of late, has only done whatever it takes to eek out a chance to hold the gavel for a few sessions, never building a plan for democratic principles for the long term. We are cowed by bigots and donors into meek acquiescence to the demonization of our principles and the people we supposedly champion.

Fuck Fetterman. Calling himself a Democrat shouldn't give him carte blanche on this site. He is a narcissistic quisling.

MLK was a good man who stood on his principles of love and justice.

At some point we need to hold members of OUR party to defending and promoting OUR principles. I'm not talking about electoral purity tests. These sellings-out are perpetrated by Dems who already hold office, and being in the minority provides them cover.



yardwork

(69,670 posts)
31. The 1960s Civil Rights Acts caused southern Democrats to switch.
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:29 AM
Yesterday

I've lived in NC since the 1970s. Jesse Helms was a vile racist radio host who became a vile racist politician.

You are correct that it's not relevant to say "Jesse Helms was a Democrat." The entirety of his political career was as a right wing Republican. He never switched ideologies.

What's happening with Fetterman is something different.

LuvLoogie

(8,929 posts)
50. Fetterman calling himself a Democrat does not insulate him from
Fri May 22, 2026, 11:08 AM
22 hrs ago

being called out as a quisling.

TVguyCards

(15 posts)
24. MLK was never a Republican
Fri May 22, 2026, 08:37 AM
Yesterday

This is a myth not supported by historical evidence and one that the right tries it's best to platform every year when MLK Day rolls around. In fact if we're being honest, MLK, Jr. never identified as a member of either party although he did mostly vote for Democrats. His focus was on advancing civil rights than advancing a political party.

Britannica has a very good article on this.

Was Martin Luther King, Jr., a Republican or a Democrat?

LuvLoogie

(8,929 posts)
29. You're right.
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:27 AM
Yesterday

I was coming from the point that it did not matter if he was. He never held or ran for political office. The power he was seeking was for the people within themselves through the principles of justice and love. He appealed to politicians based on that. Party affiliation and platforms were in flux during his time.

Now, the different platforms and principles are clear. The centrists are selling ours out to data centers, private prisons, and private equity.

Autumn

(49,023 posts)
42. Not sure I understand. Are we supposed to support Democrats even if they are racist scum?
Fri May 22, 2026, 10:05 AM
23 hrs ago

Helms is dead, Duke is active in promoting antisemitic and white nationalist views. Do we still have to support them?

LuvLoogie

(8,929 posts)
45. The contradiction is the point.
Fri May 22, 2026, 10:25 AM
23 hrs ago

Calling yourself a Democrat should not give you cover for shit votes or executive actions.

Passages

(4,527 posts)
21. New York Magazine on Senator Fetterman
Fri May 22, 2026, 08:00 AM
Yesterday

Alex Shultz@AlexShultz
New: I spoke to a dozen sources about John Fetterman's dwindling inner circle; his closest confidant is now an unpaid adviser named David Safier, who's jokingly referred to as "chief" by staffers. Fetterman's actual chief of staff quit yesterday


Johonny

(26,640 posts)
28. Jesus, this guy is grade A Trump level stupid
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:23 AM
Yesterday

I hope his staffer explained to him just how fucking stupid he is.

He officially is worse than Joe Manchin. Joe wasn't this level of stupid at all.

Emile

(43,305 posts)
32. Manchin voted with the democrats 89%
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:29 AM
Yesterday

of the time, Fetterman votes with the democratic party 92% of the time.

D_Master81

(2,688 posts)
39. At least Manchin was from a red state
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:47 AM
Yesterday

I figured he did what he did out of strategy to stay in his seat. Fetterman is worse and is from a much more blue state than WV

Botany

(77,883 posts)
33. Any good will I still had for Fetterman is now gone. Zero sympathy for his medical conditions now.
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:33 AM
Yesterday

Time for Fetterman to have a stroke 2.0 and get him out office.

Firestorm49

(4,567 posts)
37. I guess that I'd like to know how he managed to hoodwink enough people to get elected. Nobody saw the signs?
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:42 AM
Yesterday

Raine1967

(11,693 posts)
38. I can't help but wonder about his spouse.
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:45 AM
Yesterday

If my husband did such a 180 politically, we'd have a real problem.

GCG

(120 posts)
41. She seems to have more empathy then he does!
Fri May 22, 2026, 10:01 AM
23 hrs ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisele_Barreto_Fetterman

As first lady of Braddock, Pennsylvania, Fetterman founded the Braddock Free Store, a non-profit organization that provides local lower-income families with toys, diapers, baby formula, clothing, household items, and furniture.

She has pushed for the United States Congress to take "humane and compassionate" approaches to immigration, and petitioned that immigrant families should not be separated. She spoke in favor of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for attempting to end the program.

Omnipresent

(7,527 posts)
40. Why is he still a Democrat?
Fri May 22, 2026, 09:57 AM
23 hrs ago

Does he not know that Pennsylvanian’s aren’t going to accept this behavior, even if he changes parties.

D_Master81

(2,688 posts)
47. The 1 term senator from Penn said what?
Fri May 22, 2026, 10:42 AM
23 hrs ago

At this point I’m assuming he is being paid by someone to just shit on the Democratic Party because no one watching the current state of politics should be thinking the way is to go towards MAGA and the right

CousinIT

(12,768 posts)
53. KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS NOT DEAD.
Fri May 22, 2026, 11:35 AM
22 hrs ago

So - there's THAT.

Fetterman just needs to GTFO - switch parties or go Indy. Good fucking riddance.

MadLinguist

(919 posts)
62. And that little shit Rittenhouse KILLED
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:00 PM
20 hrs ago

Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum with impunity. Fetterman knows this, the twisted dick.

PCIntern

(28,606 posts)
56. My theory about this guy:
Fri May 22, 2026, 11:41 AM
22 hrs ago

He was a repressed Pennsylvania-typical-hick-asshole who saw which way the wind was blowing and latched onto the candidate for Governor at the time (whom I knew personally). After his injury he’s lost frontal lobe editing and you’re seeing the real guy now. Yep.

ck4829

(38,098 posts)
57. If I have a stroke, I hope it finishes me off instead of damaging my brain so badly like we see with Fetterman
Fri May 22, 2026, 11:42 AM
22 hrs ago

Ars Longa

(581 posts)
61. As U.S. Senator he gets solid PLATINUM health care for $0.
Fri May 22, 2026, 12:57 PM
20 hrs ago

So of course he disses other people for complaining about wildly exorbitant
health care!

MustLoveBeagles

(17,348 posts)
65. When Fetterman first ran for
Fri May 22, 2026, 01:44 PM
20 hrs ago

Federal office I thought we were getting a fighter and we have. He's a fighter against his own party. I don't know why he doesn't switch already. This is why the Dems can't have nice things. It seems like we always have 1 or 2 of these bozos mucking things up.

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